vamp1
- the portion of a shoe or boot upper that covers the instep and toes.
- something patched up or pieced together.
- Jazz. an accompaniment, usually improvised, consisting of a succession of simple chords.
- to furnish with a vamp, especially to repair (a shoe or boot) with a new vamp.
- to patch up; repair.
- to give (something) a new appearance by adding a patch or piece.
- to concoct or invent (often followed by up): He vamped up a few ugly rumors to discredit his enemies.
- Jazz. to improvise (an accompaniment or the like).
- Jazz. to improvise an accompaniment, tune, etc.
Origin of vamp1
vamp2
- a seductive woman who uses her sensuality to exploit men.
- to use feminine charms upon; seduce.
- to act as a vamp.
Origin of vamp2
Examples from the Web for vamp
Historical Examples
Who wants to pick up with anyone they can vamp in the Subway?
Working With the Working WomanCornelia Stratton Parker
To “vamp” is equal, in musical language, to 34“scamp” or to dodge up.
Happy-Thought HallF. C. Burnand
I gathered I had been guilty of falling for the Zerv equivalent of a vamp.
Valley of the CroenLee Tarbell
Turn and work across top of vamp with a double in each stitch.
Repeat 6th and 7th rows until you have 25 ribs, or the vamp is as deep as desired.
vamp1
- a seductive woman who exploits men by use of her sexual charms
- to exploit (a man) in the fashion of a vamp
Word Origin
vamp2
- something patched up to make it look new
- the reworking of a theme, story, etc
- an improvised accompaniment, consisting largely of chords
- the front part of the upper of a shoe
- (tr often foll by up) to give a vamp to; make a renovation of
- to improvise (an accompaniment) to (a tune)
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for vamp
v.
"extemporize on a piano," 1789, originally a noun meaning "part of a stocking that covers the foot and ankle" (early 13c.), from Anglo-French *vaumpé, from Old French avantpié, from avant "in front" + pié "foot." Sense evolved to "provide a stocking with a new vamp" (1590s), to "patch up, repair" (cf. revamp) to "extemporize." Related: Vamped; vamping.
n.
"seductive woman," 1911, short for vampire. First attested use is earlier than the release of the Fox film "A Fool There Was" (January 1915), with sultry Theda Bara in the role of The Vampire. But the movie was based on a play of that name that had been a Broadway hit (title and concept from a Kipling poem, "The Vampire"), and the word may ultimately trace to Bara's role. At any rate, Bara (real name Theodosia Goodman) remains the classic vamp.
A fool there was and he made his prayer
(Even as you and I!)
To a rag and a bone and a hank of hair
(We called her the woman who did not care)
But the fool, he called her his lady fair
(Even as you and I.)
[Kipling, "The Vampire"]